During the first part of the pandemic, I had trouble settling on anything to watch or read. Much like other people my mind could not focus. I tried re-watching shows and rereading books, but I struggled to settle.
I have always felt calmed by watching public television cooking shows. When the Food Network started, I had such hope. However, all the shows felt formulaic and artificial - it could have been all the commercials interrupting the flow. So for me, watching the Food Network is different than watching American’s Test Kitchen on PBS. It may be the gentle way they teach you how to do each step. There is something about watching someone with years of experience do the the thing they love to do.
Which brings me back to BBC show The Repair Shop.1 The premise of the show brings people and their physical pieces of family history into a workshop full of crafts people who can repair, clean and restore them based on their own unique set of skills.2 The show opens with furniture restorer Jay Blades talking about our “throw-away culture”and that “everybody has something that means too much to throw away and that’s where we come in…Bringing the objects and the memories they hold back to life.” 3
Each episode has three different items and stories. Folks bring in the item and they are asked about its history, why it is important to repair it and what they plan on doing with it which usually includes passing it down to future generations. The items (clocks, paintings, ceramic pieces, teddy bears, stained glass, leather works, cast iron pieces just to name a few) are almost always passed down within the family and are described as a link with the past. Then we get to watch these incredibly skilled crafts people work their magic with such reverence and skill. Watching each of the processes from cleaning to disabling to carving new pieces to repainting and reassembling is soothing because of the attention and care each crafts person takes. They often talk about the work being a labor of love. I love seeing how things are made or remade in this case.
Finally the people return to pick up the repaired item always filled with “excitement” and feeling “nervous.” And then there are tears after the reveal, from the people coming in to pick up their family items and sometimes from the crafts people. And my own tears - I almost always cry.
The whole show is very gentle and thoughtful. And it highlights the importance of family history through objects. Many times the item is the only thing left after someone has died. The stories are often tied up in childhood memories, hence the tears.
The objects connect the people not only to the stories but to their own family histories. The connection creates a sense of belonging. It reminds me of researchers coming in to find out information about their family or learn more about their house. People are aching for connection and a sense of belonging. We want to know where we fit in this big often overwhelming world. I believe that is why archives and records are important. They not only give us perspective but can create a sense of belonging.
Addendum: I fit squarely in this group of people connected to items that have family stories. I have quite a few things from my grandparents and have a story for most of them that makes me feel connected to them every time I see them or use them. I have had several pieces published on a website called Storied-Stuff - show and tell for grownups. Yesterday my most recent piece was published.
Enter a workshop filled with expert craftspeople, bringing loved pieces of family history and the memories they hold back to life. A heartwarming antidote to throwaway culture.
When we lived on our mini-farm I was a recycler crafter. This reminded me of the magic of restoring a purpose to something of the past. Perfect topic for you, Mary.
I paid $700 to have some old inherited furniture refurbished at a shop in Portland. It was worth it, they did a beautiful job. The furniture wasn't really valuable, nor did I feel sentimental about it, I just liked it and wanted to use it!